These are unprecedented and uncertain times we are living in. As you are aware, new information about COVID-19 becomes available daily. The BMBA and BBA are continuously monitoring the situation and are in contact with the EMA, local governing officials, and other local experts to assist our churches and disaster relief efforts.
Is Your Church Stuck at Zero?
“Who’s Your One” is now a one-year-old emphasis in the Southern Baptist Convention—calling on individual believers to reach out to a person without a relationship with Jesus Christ. All over Birmingham and across the Convention, individual believers are focusing on a single person with their prayers, acts of service, love, and verbal witness of the Gospel. This invest and invite strategy works. We see the results in the BMBA. People are being transformed by the Gospel! Baptismal waters are stirring. Personal evangelism is being reborn for a new generation.
BMBA Creates New Staff Position
Dear Birmingham Baptists,
God gave us a dream to revitalize, replant, and plant churches in the Birmingham Metro area. In preparation for realizing this vision, the BMBA Personnel Committee created a new staff position to lead the way in church revitalization. Immediately, the team began to pray for God to provide leadership for this vital role. The BMBA is excited to announce Mark Clifton as Interim Director of Church Revitalization for the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association beginning March 16th. During his time with us, Mark will also serve as Transitional Pastor of McElwain Baptist Church in their revitalization efforts.
Five Core Values in Ministry
Understanding the City
Recent data from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) indicated that 75 percent of Southern Baptist churches that closed in one year were in metropolitan areas with populations of more than 50,000 (namb.net). With the urbanization of the United States and migrations of people away from many rural areas, this revelation seems counterintuitive. One might think that most church closures were out in the far reaches of the county. However, this is not the case. Church revitalization must be on the top of our list for urban Baptist associations like Birmingham Metro Baptist Association.
Jerusalem and Antioch Partnerships
When Jesus gathered with His disciples in the climactic moment at Caesarea Philippi, he asked them about public perceptions of His identity. Jesus’ leading men gave complimentary answers: “Some say John the Baptist . . . Elijah . . . one of the prophets.” Jesus narrowed the focus. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-19).